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NFL roundup: Brees absent as Saints begin voluntary workouts

Associated Press – published Monday, April 16, 2012

Brees absent at Saints’ first workout

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints have completed their first day of voluntary workouts without quarterback Drew Brees.

Brees was in New York on Monday to join players’ union officials at NFL offices to discuss the Saints’ bounty program, which has resulted in the suspension of head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season. While Brees has not been connected to the bounty system, he’s helping the union represent players who may be punished in the scandal.

Vick says in a statement Monday that Alabama’s cockfighting law is the nation’s “weakest” because the $50 fine is the maximum punishment. Vick has been outspoken against animal cruelty since he served 16 months in federal prison on a dog-fighting conviction.

Vick says he doesn’t want others to make the same mistake of being cruel to animals.

Sen. Cam Ward introduced a bill that would upgrade the state’s penalty for illegal cockfighting.

It would become a class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $6,000. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee early in the session, but the Senate Rules Committee refused to bring up the bill for a vote.

Broncos sign WR Brandon Stokley

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Brandon Stokley, who made one of the most famous catches in Broncos history, is returning to Denver to play with old friend Peyton Manning.

Stokley signed a one-year deal with the Broncos Monday. In June, he’ll turn 36, the same age as Manning, whom he played with in Indianapolis from 2003-06.

Stokley’s first stint with the Broncos (2007-09) was best known for his “Immaculate Deflection” catch that stunned the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2009 season opener. Down 7-6 with 28 seconds left, Kyle Orton’s underthrown pass to Brandon Marshall was tipped by cornerback Leon Hall and into the hands of Stokley, who raced for an 87-yard TD and a 12-7 win in Josh McDaniels’ head coaching debut.

Stokley played with the Seahawks in 2010 and the Giants last year.

Bradshaw, Williams give support to Saints, Payton

CHOUDRANT, La. — Former Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Doug Williams expressed support for beleaguered Head Coach Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints on Monday.

“I really feel bad for Coach Payton and the Saints,” Bradshaw said during his annual fundraising golf tournament for Louisiana Tech University at the Squire Creek Golf and Country Club. “I like Coach Payton. He’s a good guy. I hate that this became an issue and I thought the suspension handed down was pretty strong.

“But I can also understand the message that commissioner (Roger Goodell) is trying to send. It’s just a bad situation that the Saints’ organization has to overcome and move on from and I am confident that they will.”

Payton has been suspended for the entire 2012 season as part of the punishment handed down regarding the Saints’ bounty system under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

“Honestly, when this came out, I never gave it much of a thought because football is a rough and tumble game,” said Bradshaw, who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles during his Hall of Fame career. “It’s hit or be hit. I never knew of any bounties being placed on me when I was playing the game because I just assumed every defender was going to try and tackle the guy with the football as hard as he could. I considered myself as a tough player because you have to be tough to play this game.”

Williams, the first African-American quarterback ever to start in a Super Bowl and who guided the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos in 1988, said: “I hate it for Coach Payton because I’m a big fan of his.

“It’s going to be tough for a while with him gone, but I believe the Saints will get all of their pieces to the puzzle together and come out OK with this situation. They’ve got a lot of talent on that team. It just might take a little while for everybody to adjust to what has happened.”

Asked if he thought bounties were ever placed on him during his career, Williams said, “I never did, but then again I just assumed it was every defender’s goal to try and get the quarterback, regardless of what you want to call it.

“You’re talking about football. It’s a tough game.”

Miller predicts Tebow will start in NY

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Just because they’re no longer teammates doesn’t mean Von Miller is any less a fan of Tim Tebow, whom he predicts will be the New York Jets’ starting quarterback in 2012.

The Broncos pass-rusher and NFL defensive Rookie of the Year was one of Tebow’s staunchest supporters last season when the popular but polarizing quarterback supplanted Kyle Orton as Denver’s starter.

Miller said Monday that he understands why the Broncos went after Peyton Manning and then traded Tebow, whom he predicts will supplant Mark Sanchez as the Jets starter.

Miller said: “I think everybody’s mistaken if you think he’s just going to go over there and be a wildcat quarterback or a situational quarterback. The Tebow that I know is going ... to be able to compete for that starting job.”

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